Australia news updates live: crash closes Sydney Harbour Bridge; PM flags ‘enormous’ flood recovery effort; Turnbull criticises submarine base plan

Good morning, Mostafa Rachwani with you this morning, and for the start of another week of rain.

The prime minister, Scott Morrison, was up this morning, saying an “enormous effort” going into flood recovery, adding that it was an almost it was an “unimaginable” situation.

He described the floods as like “nothing in living memory” and said he understood the “great frustration” that residents have expressed at the recovery efforts.

The PM added that the military is “continuing to roll in” to the flood affected regions, including up to 2,000 personnel reportedly deployed.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued severe weather warnings for the Mid North Coast, and parts of South Coast, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands and Northern Tablelands, with heavy rainfall still expected for much of eastern NSW heading into Tuesday.

Flood warnings are still in place for NSW Coastal Rivers from the Northern Rivers to the South Coast, including Shoalhaven River at Nowra and Terara, at the Hunter River and Wollombi Brook at Bulga, Singleton, and Maitland.

There are also minor flood warnings for the Hawkesbury river at Nepean Valley and Colo River.

There are also reports of a car on fire on the Sydney Harbour Bridge due to an accident, and we will bring you more details on that as it emerges.

Last night, severe weather warnings were in place across south-east Queensland, with Brisbane, Beenleigh, Cleveland, northern Gold Coast and Straddie seeing damaging winds and heavy rainfall.

There are reports a man’s body was found in his car after he was swept off a flooded crossing in the South Burnett region late yesterday, the 12th death in the state since the floods hit.

The warnings and coming rain has affected clean-up efforts, with all eyes on the effects the weather will have on communities already devastated.

In politics, we are expecting the PM to announce a base for submarines between Wollongong and Brisbane sometime this morning.

Meanwhile, AGL Energy yesterday rejected a higher takeover bid from tech billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes and Canadian asset manager Brookfield, potentially seeing off the unsolicited bid.

There is still much about, so let’s get stuck in.